Systems and methods to generate a video of a user-defined virtual reality scene

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for generating a video of a user-defined virtual reality scene are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: obtain a scene definition; obtain camera information for multiple virtual cameras to be used in generating a two-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene; execute a simulation of the virtual reality scene from the scene definition for at least a portion of the scene duration; obtain camera timing instructions specifying which of the virtual cameras should be used to generate the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene as a function of progress through the scene duration; generate the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene in accordance with the camera timing instructions and the camera information.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to generating a video of a user-definedvirtual reality scene.

BACKGROUND

Capturing a virtual reality scene may require planning and set up ofvarious elements (e.g., lighting, character positioning, filters, etc.).However, adjusting the various elements of the captured virtual realityscene may require re-capturing the virtual reality scene to incorporatethose elements and lengthening production time and expenses.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to implementing camerainformation that is individually defined separate virtual cameras usedto characterize a two-dimensional presentation of a virtual realityscene. The camera information may define camera capture parameters thatcharacterizes capture preferences for the virtual reality scene. Thecamera capture parameters may be specified by a user. When a particularvirtual camera is activated to switch the point of view of the virtualreality scene, the associated camera information for that particularvirtual camera may be implemented along with the capture preferencesspecified by the user.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system configured togenerate a video of a user-defined virtual reality scene. The system mayinclude one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readableinstructions. Machine-readable instructions may include one or moreinstruction components. The instruction components may include computerprogram components. The instruction components may include one or moreof scene definition obtaining component, camera obtaining component,simulation execution component, presentation generating component,and/or other instruction components.

The scene definition obtaining component may be configured to obtain ascene definition and/or other information. The scene definition mayinclude scene information that defines a virtual reality scene. Thevirtual reality scene may include preset performances of characterswithin a virtual reality setting over a scene duration from a scenebeginning to a scene end. The scene information may include settinginformation and character information. The setting information maydefine the setting. The character information may define the charactersand the performances of the characters.

The camera obtaining component may be configured to obtain camerainformation and/or other information for multiple virtual cameras to beused in generating a two-dimensional presentation of the virtual realityscene. By way of non-limiting example, the virtual cameras may include afirst virtual camera. The camera information for the first virtualcamera may define, as a function of progress through the scene duration,field of view for the first virtual camera, values of camera captureparameters for the first virtual camera, adjustments to the sceneinformation specific to the first virtual camera, and/or other camerainformation.

The camera obtaining component may be configured to obtain camera timinginstructions, and/or other information. The camera timing instructionsmay specify which of the virtual cameras should be used to generate thetwo-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene as a functionof progress through the scene duration.

The simulation execution component may be configured to execute asimulation of the virtual reality scene from the scene definition for atleast a portion of the scene duration.

The presentation generating component may be configured to generate thetwo-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene. Thegeneration of the two-dimensional presentation may be in accordance withthe camera timing instruction, the camera information, and/or otherinformation. By way of non-limiting example, responsive to the cameratiming instructions specifying the first virtual camera is to be usedfor a first portion of the scene duration, during the first portion ofthe scene duration the two-dimensional presentation of the virtualreality scene may depict the virtual reality setting and the charactersthrough the field of view of the first virtual camera with the values ofthe camera capture parameters for the first virtual camera and with theadjustments to the scene information specific to the first virtualcamera.

As used herein, the term “obtain” (and derivatives thereof) may includeactive and/or passive retrieval, determination, derivation, transfer,upload, download, submission, and/or exchange of information, and/or anycombination thereof. As used herein, the term “effectuate” (andderivatives thereof) may include active and/or passive causation of anyeffect, both local and remote. As used herein, the term “determine” (andderivatives thereof) may include measure, calculate, compute, estimate,approximate, generate, and/or otherwise derive, and/or any combinationthereof.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present technology,as well as the methods of operation and functions of the relatedelements of structure and the combination of parts and economies ofmanufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description and the appended claims with reference to theaccompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification,wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in thevarious figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only andare not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As usedin the specification and in the claims, the singular form of ‘a’, ‘an’,and ‘the’ include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured to generate a video of auser-defined virtual reality scene, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method to generate a video of a user-definedvirtual reality scene, in accordance with one or more implementations.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example implementation of a system configured togenerate a video of a user-defined virtual reality scene, in accordancewith one or more implementations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured to generate a video of auser-defined virtual reality scene, in accordance with one or moreimplementations. In some implementations, system 100 may include one ormore servers 102. Server(s) 102 may be configured to communicate withone or more client computing platforms 104 according to a client/serverarchitecture and/or other architectures. Client computing platform(s)104 may be configured to communicate with other client computingplatforms via server(s) 102 and/or according to a peer-to-peerarchitecture and/or other architectures. Users may access system 100 viaclient computing platform(s) 104.

Server(s) 102 may be configured by machine-readable instructions 106.Machine-readable instructions 106 may include one or more instructioncomponents. The instruction components may include computer programcomponents. The instruction components may include one or more of scenedefinition obtaining component 108, camera obtaining component 110,simulation execution component 112, presentation generating component114, and/or other instruction components.

Scene definition obtaining component 108 may be configured to obtain ascene definition and/or other information. The scene definition mayinclude scene information that defines a virtual reality scene. Thevirtual reality scene may include preset performances of characterswithin a virtual reality setting over a scene duration. The presetperformances of the characters may be individual performances by thecharacters that are predetermined for execution during the virtualreality scene. The scene duration may span be from a scene beginning toa scene end. The scene beginning may be the start of the virtual realityscene. The scene end may be the termination of the virtual realityscene. The scene information may include setting information, characterinformation, and/or other information.

The setting information may define the setting of the virtual realityscene. The setting may comprise a virtual environment that surrounds thecharacters and/or inanimate objects. The setting information may includesetting values for setting parameters including one or more of a visualappearance, ambient audio, lighting, inanimate objects of the setting,and/or other setting parameters. The visual appearance may include oneor more of a color, shading, a pattern, a texture, an animation, and/orother visual appearances. Ambient audio may include one or morebackground noises such as car traffic, animal noises (e.g., dog barking,birds chirping), talking, and/or other ambient audio. Lighting mayinclude ambient lighting, spot lighting, accent lighting, and/or otherlighting. Inanimate objects may include one or more of a furniture, arock, a vehicle, a weapon, among others. The inanimate objects of thesetting may be defined by object values for object parameters includingone or more of a visual appearance, an attitude, audio, location, and/orother object parameters. The visual appearance of the inanimate objectsmay include one or more of a color, a text, a text font, a text size, apattern, a shading, a texture, a size, a size relative to the setting,and/or other visual appearances. The attitude may include values for ayaw angle, a pitch angle, and a roll angle. The attitude of theinanimate objects may be adjusted so that the inanimate objects may berotated. The audio of the inanimate objects may include for example,creak audio for furniture, engine audio for a vehicle, burst audio for aweapon, among others. The inanimate objects may be placed in aparticular location of the setting. The location may define virtualcoordinates within the setting.

The character information may define the characters of the virtualreality scene, the performances of the characters, and/or otherinformation related to the characters. The character information mayinclude character values for character parameters including one or moreof a visual appearance, audio, a location, a pose of the characters, aview direction, and/or other character parameters. The visual appearanceof the individual characters may include one or more of clothing, aheight, a width, a hairstyle, accessories, a skin color, and/or othervisual appearances. The audio of the individual characters may includecharacter voices, character-initiated noises (e.g., stomp, clap, etc.)and/or other audio related to the individual characters. The locationsof the individual characters may change throughout the scene duration.For example, the characters may walk, run, dance, fight, and/or otheractions of which change the location of the individual characters. Thelocations of the individual characters may define virtual coordinateswithin the setting that adjust with movement of the characters. Pose ofthe individual characters may define the posture, attitude (i.e., valuesfor a yaw angle, a pitch angle, roll angle) of the character's body,attitude of the character's head, and/or other poses of the individualcharacters. View direction of the individual characters may be adirection of which the individual characters are facing and/or lookingat.

Camera obtaining component 110 may be configured to obtain camerainformation and/or other information for multiple virtual cameras to beused in generating a two-dimensional presentation of the virtual realityscene. The camera information may define a field of view for anindividual virtual camera, values of camera capture parameters for theindividual virtual camera, adjustments to the scene information specificto the individual virtual camera, and/or other information. The camerainformation for the individual virtual cameras may be defined as afunction of progress through the scene duration. Meaning, as the sceneduration progresses from the scene beginning to the scene end, thecamera information for the individual cameras may be affected. The fieldof view for the individual camera may defined by based on cameraorientation information, camera location information, and/or otherinformation. The camera orientation information may define anorientation of the virtual camera. For example, the orientation ofvirtual camera may be defined by one or more of a pitch angle, a rollangle, a yaw angle, and/or other measurements. The camera locationinformation may identify a virtual location of the virtual camera. Thevirtual location may define virtual coordinates, for example.

The camera capture parameters may include parameters related tocapturing via the virtual camera and capture preferences. The cameracapture parameters may include speed of capture (e.g., slow motion, fastmotion), f-stop, focus, frame rate, projection (e.g., orthographic,perspective), and/or other camera capture parameters. The values for thecamera capture parameters may be defined according to capturepreferences input by one or more users via one or more client computingplatforms 104.

The adjustments to the scene information may be specific to a particularvirtual camera. The adjustments may include one or more of adjustmentsor changes to the values that define the lighting of the setting, theambient audio of the setting, the location of one or more of theinanimate objects, the attitude of the one or more inanimate objects,the audio of the one or more inanimate objects, the pose of the one ormore of the characters, the location of the one or more of thecharacters, the view direction of the one or more characters, othersetting information, and/or other character information. One or more ofthe adjustments may be implemented during one or more portions of thescene durations.

By way of non-limiting example, the virtual cameras may include a firstvirtual camera, a second virtual camera, and so forth. Camerainformation for the first virtual camera may define field of view forthe first virtual camera, values of camera capture parameters for thefirst virtual camera, adjustments to the scene information specific tothe first virtual camera, and/or other information. The camerainformation for the first virtual camera may be defined as a function ofprogress through the scene duration. The camera information for thesecond virtual camera may define field of view for the second virtualcamera, values of camera capture parameters for the second virtualcamera, scene information adjustments specific to the second virtualcamera, and/or other information. The camera information for the secondvirtual camera may be defined as a function of progress through thescene duration. The field of view for the second virtual camera may bedifferent than the field of view for the first virtual camera.

The adjustments to the scene information specific to the first virtualcamera may include adjustment of the lighting of the setting during thefirst portion of the scene duration, adjustment of the location of theinanimate objects of the setting during the first portion of the sceneduration, adjustment of the pose of the characters during the firstportion of the scene duration, and/or other adjustments to the sceneinformation specific to the first virtual camera. For example, the firstvirtual camera may follow a character from a behind point of view. Thelighting of the setting that is specific to the first virtual camera maybe adjusted upon the character entering a virtual building from avirtual outdoor environment. For example, during the first portion ofthe scene duration, the location of a vehicle within the setting may beadjusted. That is, values of the virtual coordinates may be modified tomove the vehicle into a more desirable location within the field of viewof the first virtual camera.

Simulation execution component 112 may be configured to execute asimulation of the virtual reality scene from the scene definition for atleast a portion of the scene duration. The simulation may be an examplegeneration of at least some of the virtual reality scene. Subsequent toexecuting the simulation of the virtual reality scene for at least theportion of the scene duration, at least some of the camera informationmay be adjusted. The adjustments may be based on user input from the oneor more users. For example, the pose of a character may be adjusted.

Camera obtaining component 110 may be configured to obtain camera timinginstructions and/or other information. The camera timing instructionsmay specify which ones of the virtual cameras should be used to generatethe two-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene as afunction of progress through the scene duration. By way of non-limitingexample, scene duration may include the first portion, the secondportion, and a third portion. The timing instructions may specify thatthe first virtual camera should be used for the first portion and thethird portion, and the second virtual camera should be used for thesecond portion. Thus, as the scene duration progress from the firstportion through the third portion, the virtual cameras being used arethe first virtual camera, the second virtual camera, and back to thefirst virtual camera.

In some implementations, the camera timing instructions may be obtainedprior to the generation of the two-dimensional presentation of thevirtual reality scene, and/or at other times. The camera timinginstructions obtained prior to the generation of the two-dimensionalpresentation of the virtual reality scene may include adjusting the pathof the virtual cameras. The path may include when and where the virtualcamera moves, from what point of view, and/or other information relatedto the path. By way of non-limiting example, the first virtual camerafor the first portion of the scene duration may follow the performanceof the characters from a front point of view while the view direction ofthe characters is at the first virtual camera. The adjustments to thescene information specific to the individual virtual cameras may specifythat the view direction of the characters is always towards the virtualcamera being used. Thus, in accordance with the camera timinginstructions and the adjustments, as the camera in use changes from thefirst virtual camera to the second virtual camera, the view direction ofthe characters changes from being towards the first virtual camera tobeing towards the second virtual camera.

Presentation generating component 114 may be configured to generate thetwo-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene in accordancewith the camera timing instructions, the camera information, and/orother information. In some implementations, the camera timinginstructions may be obtained (by camera obtaining component 110) duringthe generation of a portion of the two-dimensional presentation of thevirtual reality scene based on user control. Generation of the portionof the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene may beeffectuated during generation of the two-dimensional presentation of thevirtual reality scene. User control and user input may be obtained inreal time via one or more input devices. The one or more input devicesmay include one or more of a mouse, keyboard, touchpad, tablet computingdevice, game console controller, Smartphone, and/or other input devices.The user control may indicate an instance in time of when to use aparticular virtual camera.

By way of non-limiting example, the camera timing instructions mayspecify the first virtual camera is to be used for the first portion ofthe scene duration and the second virtual camera is to be used for thesecond portion of the scene duration. Responsive to the camera timinginstructions, during the first portion of the scene duration, thetwo-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene may depict thevirtual reality setting and the characters through the field of view ofthe first virtual camera with the values of the camera captureparameters for the first virtual camera and with the adjustments to thescene information specific to the first virtual camera. During thesecond portion of the scene duration, the two-dimensional presentationof the virtual reality scene may depict the virtual reality setting andthe characters through the field of view of the second virtual camerawith the values of the camera capture parameters for the second virtualcamera and with the adjustments to the scene information specific to thesecond virtual camera. The second virtual camera may be in use until theuser control indicates to use a third virtual camera. The third virtualcamera may include camera information specific to the third virtualcamera.

In some implementations, presentation generating component 114 may beconfigured to re-generate the two-dimensional presentation of thevirtual reality scene in accordance with the camera timing instructions,the camera information, and/or other information to generate one or moreversions of the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual realityscene. Such re-generation may be performed at any time.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example implementation of a system configured forgenerating a video of a user-defined virtual reality scene, inaccordance with one or more implementations. FIG. 3 includes field ofview 302 of a first virtual camera and field of view 304 of a secondvirtual camera for a virtual reality scene. Field of view 302 may be awide field of view to capture a side perspective of a character 306 awalking along a road with a tree 308 a (i.e., an inanimate object) andwind audio 310. Field of view 304 may be a character-focused field ofview that capture a front perspective of character 306 b where character306 a and character 306 b are the same character. Field of view 304 mayinclude tree 308 b, the same as tree 308 a, but from a differentperspective. The virtual reality scene may have a scene duration thatincludes a primary portion and a subsequent secondary portion. Thecamera timing instructions may specify to use field of view 302 for theprimary portion and subsequently use field of view 304 for the secondaryportion. The camera information specific to the second virtual cameramay adjust the location of the tree so that tree 308 b may appear closerto a location of character 306 b along the road in field of view 304 andeliminate wind audio 310. Thus, a two-dimensional presentation of thevirtual reality scene may depict field of view 302 and subsequentlyfield of view 304 of which has been adjusted upon use within the virtualreality scene.

In some implementations, server(s) 102, client computing platform(s)104, and/or external resources 120 may be operatively linked via one ormore electronic communication links. For example, such electroniccommunication links may be established, at least in part, via a networksuch as the Internet and/or other networks. It will be appreciated thatthis is not intended to be limiting, and that the scope of thisdisclosure includes implementations in which server(s) 102, clientcomputing platform(s) 104, and/or external resources 120 may beoperatively linked via some other communication media.

A given client computing platform 104 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program components. The computer programcomponents may be configured to enable an expert or user associated withthe given client computing platform 104 to interface with system 100and/or external resources 120, and/or provide other functionalityattributed herein to client computing platform(s) 104. By way ofnon-limiting example, the given client computing platform 104 mayinclude one or more of a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computing platform, a NetBook, a Smartphone, a gamingconsole, and/or other computing platforms.

External resources 120 may include sources of information outside ofsystem 100, external entities participating with system 100, and/orother resources. In some implementations, some or all of thefunctionality attributed herein to external resources 120 may beprovided by resources included in system 100.

Server(s) 102 may include electronic storage 122, one or more processors124, and/or other components. Server(s) 102 may include communicationlines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a networkand/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server(s) 102 in FIG.1 is not intended to be limiting. Server(s) 102 may include a pluralityof hardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together toprovide the functionality attributed herein to server(s) 102. Forexample, server(s) 102 may be implemented by a cloud of computingplatforms operating together as server(s) 102.

Electronic storage 122 may comprise non-transitory storage media thatelectronically stores information. The electronic storage media ofelectronic storage 122 may include one or both of system storage that isprovided integrally (i.e., substantially non-removable) with server(s)102 and/or removable storage that is removably connectable to server(s)102 via, for example, a port (e.g., a USB port, a firewire port, etc.)or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.). Electronic storage 122 mayinclude one or more of optically readable storage media (e.g., opticaldisks, etc.), magnetically readable storage media (e.g., magnetic tape,magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.), electrical charge-basedstorage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.), solid-state storage media(e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or other electronically readable storagemedia. Electronic storage 122 may include one or more virtual storageresources (e.g., cloud storage, a virtual private network, and/or othervirtual storage resources). Electronic storage 122 may store softwarealgorithms, information determined by processor(s) 124, informationreceived from server(s) 102, information received from client computingplatform(s) 104, and/or other information that enables server(s) 102 tofunction as described herein.

Processor(s) 124 may be configured to provide information processingcapabilities in server(s) 102. As such, processor(s) 124 may include oneor more of a digital processor, an analog processor, a digital circuitdesigned to process information, an analog circuit designed to processinformation, a state machine, and/or other mechanisms for electronicallyprocessing information. Although processor(s) 124 is shown in FIG. 1 asa single entity, this is for illustrative purposes only. In someimplementations, processor(s) 124 may include a plurality of processingunits. These processing units may be physically located within the samedevice, or processor(s) 124 may represent processing functionality of aplurality of devices operating in coordination. Processor(s) 124 may beconfigured to execute components 108, 110, 112, and/or 114, and/or othercomponents. Processor(s) 124 may be configured to execute components108, 110, 112, and/or 114, and/or other components by software;hardware; firmware; some combination of software, hardware, and/orfirmware; and/or other mechanisms for configuring processingcapabilities on processor(s) 124. As used herein, the term “component”may refer to any component or set of components that perform thefunctionality attributed to the component. This may include one or morephysical processors during execution of processor readable instructions,the processor readable instructions, circuitry, hardware, storage media,or any other components.

It should be appreciated that although components 108, 110, 112, and/or114 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being implemented within a singleprocessing unit, in implementations in which processor(s) 124 includesmultiple processing units, one or more of components 108, 110, 112,and/or 114 may be implemented remotely from the other components. Thedescription of the functionality provided by the different components108, 110, 112, and/or 114 described below is for illustrative purposes,and is not intended to be limiting, as any of components 108, 110, 112,and/or 114 may provide more or less functionality than is described. Forexample, one or more of components 108, 110, 112, and/or 114 may beeliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided byother ones of components 108, 110, 112, and/or 114. As another example,processor(s) 124 may be configured to execute one or more additionalcomponents that may perform some or all of the functionality attributedbelow to one of components 108, 110, 112, and/or 114.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 for generating a video of a user-definedvirtual reality scene, in accordance with one or more implementations.The operations of method 200 presented below are intended to beillustrative. In some implementations, method 200 may be accomplishedwith one or more additional operations not described, and/or without oneor more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in whichthe operations of method 200 are illustrated in FIG. 2 and describedbelow is not intended to be limiting.

In some implementations, method 200 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 200 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 200.

An operation 202 may include obtaining a scene definition. The scenedefinition may include scene information that defines a virtual realityscene. The virtual reality scene may include preset performances ofcharacters within a virtual reality setting over a scene duration from ascene beginning to a scene end. Operation 202 may be performed by one ormore hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructionsincluding a component that is the same as or similar to scene definitionobtaining component 108, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation 204 may include obtaining camera information for multiplevirtual cameras to be used in generating a two-dimensional presentationof the virtual reality scene. Operation 204 may be performed by one ormore hardware processors configured by machine-readable instructionsincluding a component that is the same as or similar to camera obtainingcomponent 110, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation 206 may include executing a simulation of the virtualreality scene from the scene definition for at least a portion of thescene duration. Operation 206 may be performed by one or more hardwareprocessors configured by machine-readable instructions including acomponent that is the same as or similar to simulation executioncomponent 112, in accordance with one or more implementations.

An operation 208 may include obtaining camera timing instructionsspecifying which of the virtual cameras should be used to generate thetwo-dimensional presentation of the virtual reality scene as a functionof progress through the scene duration. Operation 208 may be performedby one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readableinstructions including a component that is the same as or similar tocamera obtaining component 110, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

An operation 210 may include generating the two-dimensional presentationof the virtual reality scene in accordance with the camera timinginstructions and the camera information. Operation 210 may be performedby one or more hardware processors configured by machine-readableinstructions including a component that is the same as or similar topresentation generating component 114, in accordance with one or moreimplementations.

Although the present technology has been described in detail for thepurpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be themost practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understoodthat such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology isnot limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, isintended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that arewithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it isto be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to theextent possible, one or more features of any implementation can becombined with one or more features of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for generating a video of a user-definedvirtual scene, the system comprising: one or more physical processorsconfigured by machine-readable instructions to: obtain a scenedefinition, the scene definition including scene information thatdefines a virtual scene, the virtual scene including preset performancesof characters within a virtual setting over a scene duration from ascene beginning to a scene end, the scene information including settinginformation and character information, the setting information definingthe virtual setting that includes inanimate objects, and the characterinformation defining the characters and the performances of thecharacters in the virtual setting; obtain camera information formultiple virtual cameras to be used in generating a two-dimensionalpresentation of the virtual scene, the virtual cameras including a firstvirtual camera and a second virtual camera such that the camerainformation for individual ones of the multiple virtual cameras defines,as a function of progress through the scene duration, field of view forthe individual multiple virtual cameras, values of camera captureparameters for the individual multiple virtual cameras, and adjustmentsto the scene information specific to the individual multiple virtualcameras, wherein the adjustments to the scene information includechanges to values that define a location of individual ones of theinanimate objects, a size of the individual inanimate objects, lightingof the virtual setting, and/or ambient audio of the virtual setting;execute a simulation of the virtual scene from the scene definition forat least a portion of the scene duration; obtain camera timinginstructions specifying which of the multiple virtual cameras should beused to generate the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual sceneas a function of progress through the scene duration, wherein the cameratiming instructions include a first timepoint within the scene durationto initiate the first virtual camera for a first portion of the sceneduration and a second timepoint within the scene duration to initiatethe second virtual camera for a second portion of the scene duration;and generate the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual scene inaccordance with the camera timing instructions and the camerainformation such that: responsive to the camera timing instructionsspecifying the first virtual camera is to be used for the first portionof the scene duration at the first timepoint, during the first portionof the scene duration the two-dimensional presentation of the virtualscene depicts the virtual setting and the characters through the fieldof view of the first virtual camera with the values of the cameracapture parameters for the first virtual camera and with the adjustmentsto the scene information specific to the first virtual camera, andresponsive to the camera timing instructions specifying the secondvirtual camera is to be used for the second portion of the sceneduration at the second timepoint, during the second portion of the sceneduration the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual scene depictsthe virtual setting and the characters through the field of view of thesecond virtual camera with the values of the camera capture parametersfor the second virtual camera and with the adjustments to the sceneinformation specific to the second virtual camera.
 2. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the setting information includes setting visualappearance, the ambient audio, the lighting, and/or the inanimateobjects of the virtual setting, wherein the inanimate objects of thevirtual setting include object visual appearance, attitude, audio, thesize, and/or location, the attitude including a yaw angle, a pitchangle, and a roll angle.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein theadjustments to the scene information specific to the individual multiplevirtual cameras includes adjustment of the lighting of the virtualsetting during the portion of the scene duration that the individualmultiple virtual cameras are used.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein theadjustments to the scene information specific to the individual multiplevirtual cameras includes adjustment of the location of the inanimateobjects of the virtual setting during the portion of the scene durationthat the individual multiple virtual cameras are used.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the character information includes character visualappearance, audio, the location, and/or pose of the characters.
 6. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the adjustments to the scene informationspecific to the individual multiple virtual cameras includes adjustmentof the pose of the characters during the portion of the scene durationthat the individual multiple virtual cameras are used.
 7. The system ofclaim 1, wherein obtaining the camera timing instructions includesobtaining the camera timing instructions prior to the generation of thetwo-dimensional presentation of the virtual scene.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the camera timing instructions obtained prior to thegeneration of the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual sceneinclude adjusting the path of the virtual cameras such that the firstvirtual camera for the first portion of the scene duration follows theperformance of the characters from a behind point of view.
 9. The systemof claim 1, wherein obtaining the camera timing instructions includesobtaining the camera timing instructions during the generation of aportion of the two- dimensional presentation of the virtual scene basedon user control.
 10. A method for generating a video of a user-definedvirtual scene, the method comprising: obtaining a scene definition, thescene definition including scene information that defines a virtualscene, the virtual scene including preset performances of characterswithin a virtual setting over a scene duration from a scene beginning toa scene end, the scene information including setting information andcharacter information, the setting information defining the virtualsetting that includes inanimate objects, and the character informationdefining the characters and the performances of the characters in thevirtual setting; obtaining camera information for multiple virtualcameras to be used in generating a two-dimensional presentation of thevirtual scene, the virtual cameras including a first virtual camera anda second virtual camera such that the camera information for individualones of the multiple virtual cameras defines, as a function of progressthrough the scene duration, field of view for the individual multiplevirtual cameras, values of camera capture parameters for the individualmultiple virtual cameras, and adjustments to the scene informationspecific to the individual multiple virtual cameras, wherein theadjustments to the scene information include changes to values thatdefine a location of individual ones of the inanimate objects, a size ofthe individual inanimate objects, lighting of the virtual setting,and/or ambient audio of the virtual setting; executing a simulation ofthe virtual scene from the scene definition for at least a portion ofthe scene duration; obtaining camera timing instructions specifyingwhich of the multiple virtual cameras should be used to generate thetwo-dimensional presentation of the virtual scene as a function ofprogress through the scene duration, wherein the camera timinginstructions include a first timepoint within the scene duration toinitiate the first virtual camera for a first porting of the sceneduration and a second timepoint within the scene duration to initiatethe second virtual camera for a second portion of the scene duration;and generating the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual scene inaccordance with the camera timing instructions and the camerainformation such that: responsive to the camera timing instructionsspecifying the first virtual camera is to be used for the first portionof the scene duration at the first timepoint, during the first portionof the scene duration the two-dimensional presentation of the virtualscene depicts the virtual setting and the characters through the fieldof view of the first virtual camera with the values of the cameracapture parameters for the first virtual camera and with the adjustmentsto the scene information specific to the first virtual camera, andresponsive to the camera timing instructions specifying the secondvirtual camera is to be used for the second portion of the sceneduration at the second timepoint, during the second portion of the sceneduration the two-dimensional presentation of the virtual scene depictsthe virtual setting and the characters through the field of view of thesecond virtual camera with the values of the camera capture parametersfor the second virtual camera and with the adjustments to the sceneinformation specific to the second virtual camera.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the setting information includes setting visualappearance, the ambient audio, the lighting, and/or the inanimateobjects of the virtual setting, wherein the inanimate objects of thevirtual setting include object visual appearance, attitude, audio, thesize, and/or location, the attitude including a yaw angle, a pitchangle, and a roll angle.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theadjustments to the scene information specific to the individual multiplevirtual cameras includes adjustment of the lighting of the virtualsetting during the portion of the scene duration that the individualmultiple virtual cameras are used.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinthe adjustments to the scene information specific to the individualmultiple virtual cameras includes adjustment of the location of theinanimate objects of the virtual setting during the portion of the sceneduration that the individual multiple virtual cameras are used.
 14. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the character information includes charactervisual appearance, audio, the location, and/or pose of the characters.15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adjustments to the sceneinformation specific to the individual multiple virtual cameras includesadjustment of the pose of the characters during the portion of the sceneduration that the individual multiple virtual cameras are used. Themethod of claim 10, wherein obtaining the camera timing instructionsincludes obtaining the camera timing instructions prior to thegeneration of the two- dimensional presentation of the virtual scene.16. The method of claim 10, wherein the character information includescharacter visual appearance, audio, the location, and/or pose of thecharacters.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the camera timinginstructions obtained prior to the generation of the two-dimensionalpresentation of the virtual scene include adjusting the path of thevirtual cameras such that the first virtual camera for the first portionof the scene duration follows the performance of the characters from abehind point of view.
 18. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining thecamera timing instructions includes obtaining the camera timinginstructions during the generation of a portion of the two-dimensionalpresentation of the virtual scene based on user control.